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Derbyshire travel to the County Ground in Northampton to face the Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Friday 11 July (6.30pm start), as the NatWest T20 Blast campaign continues, by Neil Bates.

Northants’ won the Twenty20 competition in 2013, thanks largely to the efforts of all-rounder David Willey. Willey hit the quickest half-century of the tournament from only 19 balls and then went on to take figures of 4-9 including a hat-trick to seal victory for Northants’ on Finals Day at Edgbaston.

Derbyshire Falcons welcome back batsman Billy Godleman to the limited overs side after he recently made his return from injury, while Marcus North, who missed the four-day fixture versus Essex, returns to Graeme Welch’s side.

Wayne Madsen said: "We have got a couple of Twenty20 games over the next few days, tonight against Northants away then in front of big crowd against Yorkshire at Chesterfield on Sunday.

"We're looking forward to switching formats for the two games and I think it will be good chance for us to improve our Twenty20 form and we're looking forward to the game tonight."

The two sides’ first meeting of the season at The 3aaa County Ground was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.

Footitt then put Derbyshire in a good position by taking three wickets in an over, with Essex 19-3, but unbeaten centuries from Ryan ten Doeschate (104*) and Nick Browne (100*) secured a draw and 10 points for each team.

Derbyshire enjoyed a successful morning session, progressing their overnight score of 237-5 to 338-8 at Lunch despite the early loss of David Wainwright for 32.

This was thanks largely to a quick-fire 40 from Palladino, who struck four fours and a six in his brisk 55-ball innings. Chanderpaul - who passed 24,000 career first-class runs on Day Three - continued his controlled innings to top score with 92 off 171 balls (9 fours).

Essex’s Nick Browne hit a career-best 86 before rain washed out the final session, with the visitors 202-5, trailing Derbyshire by 73 runs after Day Two at Queen’s Park.

Opener Browne batted throughout the day to end unbeaten just 14 runs short of his maiden first-class century.

New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder was the next highest scorer of the day, hitting 32 off 36 balls, but he was one of two victims to Academy graduate Tom Taylor, who was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-49 off his 15 overs.

Mark Footitt, who removed opener Tom Westley for four the previous evening, dismissed England’s Ravi Bopara in his second over of the day, to return figures of 2-61 off 14 overs.

Alex Hughes, meanwhile, bowled 14 overs for just 22 runs, and claimed the wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate (2) during an economical spell of bowling.

Wayne Madsen and Wes Durston shared a 146-run standas Derbyshire posted 275 on the opening day against Essex at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.

The pair batted throughout the entire afternoon session, but Durston was forced to retire hurt, for 74, shortly after Tea after taking a blow to the helmet from Graham Napier.

Madsen top scored with 90 for Graeme Welch’s side, but Derbyshire lost a flurry of wickets in the final session to be dismissed for 275.

Mark Footitt (1-14) claimed an early wicket in reply, as Essex closed the day on 25-1, trailing by 250 runs.

Ben Slater (13) and Paul Borrington (23) added 39 runs for the first wicket, but both, and West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15), making his return from international duty, fell before Lunch, with Derbyshire 95-3.

The afternoon, however, belonged to Madsen and Durston as the pair went unbeaten throughout the session to add 142 runs and take their side to 222-3 at Tea.

Supporters of Derbyshire and Yorkshire are set to turn Queen’s Park in Chesterfield red this coming Sunday, as the two sides meet for their traditional NatWest T20 Blast local derby (2.30pm start).

The Club and national charity Heart Research UK are urging supporters to don the charity colours of red or purple at the game to raise awareness for this worthy cause.

Over 1,500 Cricket Derbyshire Helping Hearts wristbands have already been distributed to ticket buyers and plenty more will be available at the ground, alongside opportunities to donate to the charity around the ground.

Tickets will be available on the gate; however, the best value can be obtained by purchasing in advance of the day of the game.

This charity event follows the success of Chesterfield Turns Pink in 2013, also held at Queen’s Park, which raised in excess of £25,000 for the McGrath Foundation, Breast Cancer Care and the Cricket Derbyshire Foundation.

Local boy Ben Slater is set to make his four-day return for Derbyshire on his home patch, as Derbyshire welcome Essex to Queen’s Park, Chesterfield tomorrow (Monday), 11am start.

The 22-year-old, who has played club cricket at Queen’s Park since Kwik Cricket at the age of seven, comes into the Derbyshire squad - alongside West Indies international Shivnarine Chanderpaul – after the opener hit 54 against India at Derby last week.

“I am really excited about the prospect of playing first-class cricket again at my home ground,” Slater said.

“I played in the first-class fixture last summer against Yorkshire and it was a very special moment.

“Playing at your home ground and scoring a few runs is what dreams are made of. Hopefully I can come into the side, perform well and score a few runs.

Queen’s Park plays host to the Old Speckled Hen Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council, for the ninth successive summer, with Essex visiting on the second day of the six-day festival.

Essex’s line-up is likely to contain a number of internationals including England duo Ravi Bopara and Monty Panesar, New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder and Netherlands all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate.

World number three Test batsman Chanderpaul makes his Derbyshire return while Chesterfield-born Ben Slater will also feature for Graeme Welch’s side this week at Queen’s Park.

Tickets will be available on the gate (£17 Adults, £5 Juniors), but supporters can save £4 by purchasing their matchday tickets in advance of the day of the game. To buy tickets, please call 0871 350 1870 or click here>>

For more information about the Old Speckled Hen Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council, please click here>>

Wes Durston hit 89 off just 63 balls, but it's wasn't enough as five wickets for Anthony Ireland and 65 from Greg Smith guided Leicestershire Foxes to a five-wicket win at Queen's Park, Chesterfield, by Christabel Bancroft.

Durston blazed 89, the fifth highest individual score for Derbyshire in the competition, but Marcus North was the only other batsman to reach double figures in a total of 143.

Leicestershire lost their openers cheaply but Smith settled any nerves with a unbeaten 65 from 56 balls to guide his team to their third victory of the season with four balls to spare.

Leicestershire won the toss and elected to bowl first with all-rounder’s Durston and Chesney Hughes opening the batting for the Falcons, but Chesney Hughes was first out in the second over for seven.

The hosts lost a couple of cheap wickets, but Durston held the innings together reaching to an excellent half-century after just 31 balls.

Derbyshire reached the 15th over on 110-3 with Durston and North beginning to form a partnership, but North was out shortly after, superbly caught and bowled by Jigar Naik for 20 off 24 balls.